St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-11-13
The Circumstances Under Which Sparks
Got His Roasting Yester-
day.
Lamar Determined to Be the Comman-
der, and to Stand No Insub-
ordination.
Re Regrets, However, the Necessity Of
Making Serious Issue With an
Old Friend.
Special TO the Globe.

81 have done what have done dellber-
ately. 1t was forced upon me, and the
issue could not be avoided"
'FWas your letter written after con-
sultation with the PRESIDENT"
mo, sir, take pleasure in denying
that story. There was no consultation
concerning the removal of Mr.. Sparks
between the president and myself"
''But, Mr.. Secretary, it is alleged the
matter was discussed by yourself, PreSi-
dent Cleveland and Postmaster General
Villas"
Il cannot deny that statement too
emphatically. l read in your paper
that Mr.. Sparks was preparing letter
to me asking a review OF my decisions,
and that he was
NOT oBEYING MY ORDERS.
read in this report that he was con-
sidering such matter. l heard that he
was allowing his defiant statements to
be published. Hence l was not UMPIRE
pared for his letter when it came. 1
felt that it was forced upon me at a
time when could specially desire that
there be no controversy, and answered
1t at once:
'.WIll you be good enough to state
whether 1I6SlUCilb OlCNClouO CApCCbCO
you to write such letter to Sparks"
II tell Won honestly and sincerely that
there was nothing of the kind occurred.
l received the letter of Mr.. Sparks and
commenced a reply to it before con-
STRUNG its reading. An official of the
department was present, a subordinate.
who read the concluding portion to me
because of my desire to rest my eyes. L
Immediately, without consultation with
any one, commenced to write the reply
which has been given to the public.
There was no consultation about it. The
president knew nothing of it, had not
seen Mr.. Sparks letter, nor had an OPP
portunity to do so. The postmaster
general has nothing to do with this de-
partment and
KNEW NOTHING OF IT.
1t was within his province to know.
] wrote my reply that night, finishing
it in the morning. and sent it 10 the
it was given to the press. | did not
permit an interview yesterday nor last
night. | was silent. But L do deny
emphatically that any one was con-
suited. 1t was my own act.
Mr.. Lamar then spoke feelingly con-
corning his department, and said some
thing which he declined to permit pub
liShed. However he would not object
to permitting his nearer to say that he
spoke with faltering voice and mOiStened
eyes concerning his great regard for Mr..
Sparks. The commissioner was with
him in the house of Representatives dur
ing the StormytimeS of the reconstruction
period. He always found Mr.. Sparks true
to his party and true to his friends. He
felt kindly towards him and welcomed
him into the department. Indeed it is
known from other sources that Lamar
really settled the matter in favor of the
appointment of Sparks when he was an
applicant for the position. Mr.. Lamar
said with great feeling, 81 have tried to
make every employe of this department
feel that he is on an equality with me,
except in the matter of SubOrdinatiOn
and obedience TO orders. l determined
that only single individuals should feel
the weight OF my hand. l do not believe
there is an employe who can say or will
say when | am gone that L ever caused
a single pain of sorrow or regret to him
or her by any action of mine.
1T GRIEVES ME
that this thing has occurred at a time
when | may not remain much longer"
ut is alleged, Mir. Secretary, that you
wrote the letter at this time because
YOU are about to leave the department,
and that your chosen successor de-
manded the removal of Mr.. Sparks be-
fore he would consent to take your
place"
Il deny that. too. There was abso-
lutely nothing considered but my plain
duty-a diSagreea6le duty forced upon
me, and at a time when, of all things, |
should have prayed that the cup might
pass from me. l wrote my letter with
mingled feeling Of duty, regret and
actual mental pain. | never considered
the supreme court, my successor, the
president nor any one else. Others can
do their duty. l felt that I must do
mine. That is all there is in it,
"Were you not angry when you
penned those scathing words to Mr..
Sparks?''
was written at night partly and finished
in the morning. 1t was a deliberate
duty which had to be performed. Had
! been angry at first. my anger would
have disappeared over night. | do not
let the sun go down upon my wrath at
any time. l wrote partly at night, fin
ished in the morning and considered
the matter until afternoon. | repeat
and reiterate il was a duty deliberately
performed. Repeat it if you please that
it was performed with exceeding re-
greet. for always had high regard for
Mr.. Sparks long before he became COM
missioner"
Illinois gentlemen are trying to induce
Mr.. Lamar TO recall his letter and per-
nit Sparks to remain. Some of them
have been to see the president to try to
induce him to intercede, but failing of
that, and they generally concede that it
fasl RI fl,1lr don't
that this matter is blow which IS
UNFORTUNATE TO ILLINOIS.
They claim that with proper recogni-
ton Illinois can be made Democratic.
Hence Gen. Stevenson is being more
strongly urged for the position of post
master general. They claim that dis
missing Sparks and then appointing
some one else over the head of Steven
son will be doubIy uhkind to Illinois.
1t is strong point, and is believed to
be having its effect in favor of Steven
son. Besides. Stevenson is exceedingly
popular with ali sections of his party.
Commissioner Sparks has committed
suicide-political suicide. He is now
preparing 10 read the funeral discourse.
He is not sick. as claimed, but is pre-
pairing a manifesto III the shape OF a
resignation, which he will issue Mon
day, showing that corporate m0nopOlieS
have crowded him out. He will prob
ably say that the railroad power is in
voked by his decapitation to assist
Lamar's confirmation i'll the senate, in
aslnuch as several senators are inter-
ested in railroad mOnopolies, which
have been thrOttled by him and favored
by Lamar. This is probably the gist of
his manifesto.
After Thirty Years.
WASHINGTON. Nov. 12.-Lieut. Col.
Charles A Reynolds, deputy quarter
master general, was to-day placed on
the retired list on his own application,
after thirty years service. His retire
ment will promote Maj. George b.
Dandy to be lieutenant colonel and Capt.
John V. FAIRY to be major, and will leave
IL. l.